Anti-Inflammatory Herbal Remedies

Here is a selection of herbs that have anti-inflammatory properties. Each one comes with a brief description - click on 'More..' for more information about the medical uses, other uses and dosage!

Arnica

Arnica is one of those herbs that are only used externally. Usually found in Scandinavian meadows, at altitudes of up to 3000m, this herb is quite rare but an important part of local herbology in those places where it grows.

Arnica is one of the few herbs to have gained official recognition from the medical establishment – the UK authorities recently granted a license to Arnica Gel, used on bruises and sprains. More...

Dandelion

Some people think of it as a weed, whereas it reminds others of a childhood spent outside playing in the grass. For herbologists though, Dandelion is a powerful remedy that has been registered as a drug in Canada.

Dandelion is a prodigious multiplier, but the real reason why it has become so widespread is more to do with its use as a medicine and source of important nutrients.

Dandelion's high Vitamin C content made it a vital food for settlers, armies and ship crews anxious to avoid Scurvy, the disease brought on by Vitamin C deficiency. More...

Dong Quai

Dong Quai is another star of Chinese traditional medicine. True to the principles of Oriental herbology, it has a balancing effect on the entire body and is more of a holistic remedy for the female body than a specific cure.

The 'female ginseng' has been used for more than 2000 years in the traditional medicine of China, Japan and Korea. Although studies on the effects of Dong Quai are few and far between, the anecdotal evidence of centuries of use is compelling. Dong Quai has been used as a cure for conditions ranging from the menopause and PMS, to heart disease and stomach ulcers. More...

Goldenseal

Goldenseal was touted as a cure for almost any ailment in the 1800s, promoted by an enigmatic doctor named Samuel Thompson who prescribed it for a variety of illnesses. It comes from a bright yellow root, hence the name Goldenseal.

Goldenseal was originally used by Native Americans for skin disorders, digestive complaints and even as a cancer remedy. In more modern times, Goldenseal has gained in popularity and has been used for wound healing and many types of infection, as well as a powerful anti-fungal agent. More...

Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola is a staple of Indian Ayurvedic medicine, where it taken as a tea during meditation practices to increase psychic sensitivity and achieve a higher state of spiritual being. It is also a tremendous natural source of vitamins and minerals.

It has been used for thousands of years in Oriental medicine and features in many local legends and folklore. A Sri Lankan King named Aruna, living some time around 900 AD, reputedly used Gotu Kola as an aphrodisiac to keep his 50 wives happy. Another Asian herbalist, Chung Yun, apparently lived to 256 with help of herbs such as Gotu Kola and Fo Ti. More...

Raspberry Leaf

Although raspberries are consumed throughout the world, raspberry leaf is one of those herbal remedies that not many people have heard of. That's probably because it has a very narrow focus - 90% of the time it is used by pregnant women. Other ailments that may benefit from it include stomach upsets and throat infections.

Raspberry has a long history in ancient Europe and in referenced in many ancient texts, but its exact origin is unproven. More...

Reishi

Similar in its effects to Maitake, the Reishi mushroom is a powerful immune system booster that has been used to treat cancer and relieve the symptoms of chemotherapy. Its Chinese name, ‘lingzhi’, literally translates to ‘herb of immortality’. Unlike Maitake however, it also has beneficial effects on blood pressure, cholesterol and respiratory conditions.

A popular herb across Asia for more than 3000 years, Reishi was ‘ranked’ the #1 herb in a 2000 year old text on Chinese medicine. Reishi has now found recognition in western herbology and is increasingly subject to medical trials. The best thing about Reishi is that it has no known side effects! More...